The Los Angeles Dodgers saw their four-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Cincinnati Reds, 4-0, at Great American Ball Park.
The Dodgers offense could only muster six hits on the day and left eight men on base, which did not make things easier for starting pitcher Walker Buehler.
Buehler’s defense also did not help him out much as Corey Seager made a key error in the third inning, which led to three unearned runs coming around to score.
While Buehler didn’t like the end result and the loss, he is pleased with the direction he is heading since a rough start to the year, as seen on SportsNet LA:
“I felt OK about it. Obviously the one inning got away from me. But, didn’t walk anybody and was able to attack the zone and punch some guys out. Obviously not thrilled with the result, but I feel OK with where I’m at. … At some point a starting pitcher’s job is to save the bullpen and eat up innings. It’s one of those things that it’s tough to go out when you’re down four. It stinks, but that’s our job. I felt good enough to try and keep getting guys out and luckily I got through six.”
Buehler wound up bouncing back from that rough third inning and allowed just one earned run in six innings, giving up seven hits while striking out seven without issuing any walks.
The two biggest hits he gave up were a home run to Jesse Winker and a two-run bloop single to Yasiel Puig. He was pleased with his location on those pitches though:
“The Winker home run, I’d take my chances on that pitch really to anybody. It was in the top of the zone, which is kind of my strength. Puig obviously didn’t hit it hard enough to get to our guy. It’s frustrating when that stuff happens but it’s part of the game.”
After giving up five earned runs in two of his first three starts to the season, Buehler has held opponents to three or fewer earned runs in six straight starts. As a result, he’s lowered his ERA to 3.83 and WHIP to 1.05.
Part of the reason for Buehler’s slow start was that he only had one Spring Training outing. So with each time out, he is looking more and more like his 2018 self, which is certainly positive news for the Dodgers moving forward.
